U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Tuesday lawmakers could not take up the replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement unless Mexico passes legislation protecting workers' rights.

Speaking in an interview with Politico, Pelosi also cited concerns over enforcement provisions for the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), among other issues.

"No enforcement, no treaty," she told Politico.

The new trade deal has received a cool reception in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives because of its provisions on labor, biologic drugs and other matters.

"The concerns that our members have are workers' rights, the environment and issues related to pharmaceuticals," Pelosi said. "The overarching concern that we have is — even if you have the best language in the world in that [deal], if you don't have enforcement, you ain't got nothin'. … You have to have strong enforcement provisions."...

This was excerpted from the 2 April 2019 edition of CBC News.